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Drayson Racing and Michelin compete for EV record

June 23, 2013

The Drayson B12 69 EV will attempt to break the current land speed record for EVs. Photo by Drayson

Drayson Racing Technologies and Michelin are joining forces to make a run at the FIA World Electric Land Speed Record on Tuesday with the Drayson B12 69/EV prototype. In addition to a record attempt this will be a real-world test for the car, which will also compete in the 2014 FIA Formula E Championship.

The car was originally powered by a 5.5-liter biofuel Judd engine, but it has now been converted to full electric drive. Top speed is estimated at 199 mph, well above the current land speed record for electric cars at 175 mph. It silently accelerates to 60 mph in 3 seconds, while 100 mph passes in just more than 5 seconds. Output is rated at 850 hp from a 30kWh lithium-ion battery. The transmission is a single ratio, split-drive setup.

The current record was set in 1974 by a company called Battery Box General Electric. Drayson says this record has held so firmly due to the difficulty of running an electric vehicle consistently and reliably at such speeds. The run will be made in the United Kingdom at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire.

Check out the video below of Lord Drayson talking about the car, as well as some hot laps from testing at Rockingham race circuit.